Mountain
Origin
From Middle English, from Anglo-Norman muntaine, from Vulgar Latin *montÄnea, feminine of *montÄneus ("mountainous"), alteration of Latin montÄnus, from mÅns (""), from Proto-Indo-European *monti (compare Welsh mynydd ("mountain"), Albanian mat ("bank, shore"), Avestan (mati, "promontory")), from Proto-Indo-European *men- ("to project, stick out"). More at menace.
Full definition of mountain
Noun
mountain
(plural mountains)- A large mass of earth and rock, rising above the common level of the earth or adjacent land, usually given by geographers as above 1000 feet in height (or 304.8 metres), though such masses may still be described as hills in comparison with larger mountains.Everest is the highest mountain in the world.We spent the weekend hiking in the mountains.
- A large amount.There's still a mountain of work to do.
- (figuratively) A difficult task or challenge.
- 2011, October 1, Phil Dawkes, Sunderland 2 - 2 West Brom, Five minutes into the game the Black Cats were facing a mountain, partly because of West Brom's newly-found ruthlessness in front of goal but also as a result of the home side's defensive generosity.